'Doctor Who' will last at least five more years, says Steven Moffat

LOS ANGELES — TARDIS-like in its magnitude, cult hit Doctor Who will run for at least another five seasons, according to showrunner Steven Moffat.

Per the UK's Radio Times, Moffat's expectations for the show's longevity continue to be exceeded. “I thought it would last 10 years,” Moffat said. “I didn't think it would last 10 years with BBC Worldwide trying to get me in a room to talk about their plan for the next five years!”

Clarifying, Moffat added: “It's going to do a minimum of 15. I mean, it could do 26!”

This is cause for Whovian celebration in all echelons of fandom, with the series practically guaranteed to stay on air through 2020. And then Ben Stephenson, head of BBC drama, blew Moffat's prediction out of the water. “Because it's such an amazing format, because you can constantly revive it and reimagine it, then as long as the people looking after it are passionate about it and the BBC is passionate about it, there's absolutely no reason why it can't do another 50 years.”

The rebooted series celebrated 10 years on the air in late March. Current Doctor Peter Capaldi stars on the BBC time travel series. VARIETY.COM/ REUTERS